Page 173 of From Now On

“I’m adding it to your list.”

I glare at him. “Don’t you dare.”

My fuck-it list has become a running joke between us. Anytime there’s something I don’t want to do but Hunter does, he suggests I add it. I’ve caved on a few things, like skiing, butafter that catastrophe I swore I was going to hold my ground on any future additions.

Problem is, I still get giddy around Hunter Morgan.

And since I admitted that to him, he uses it to his advantage.

The intercom comes to life again, this time with an announcement for the flight crew to prepare the cabin for takeoff.

I snap on my seat belt and tighten it around my waist.

Hunter’s still holding my hand, rubbing lazy circles around my knuckles.

I missed him. We moved in together two years ago, when he graduated from Penn and moved to New York, and since then there haven’t been many nights we’ve spent apart. I slept terribly the past few nights simply because his side of the bed was empty.

“Rowan had the baby,” I say as we wait for our plane to leave the gate. “A boy. Ben posted a photo.”

We had lunch with Ben and his wife six months ago. They came to the city for a weekend getaway, and I suggested meeting up after Hunter said he was up for it.

I hadn’t seen Ben since graduation. He’s running his family’s seafood store on his own now, and Rowan works as a librarian in Port Haven. During dinner, Ben told me he’s working on a documentary about the town’s history and Rowan is helping him with the research. They’re perfect for each other.

“When did we get so old people our age are having kids?” Hunter wonders.

“Ten years ago, technically. That’s how old my mom was when she had me. On purpose? Now, I guess.”

He squeezes my hand. “Do you ever think about it?”

My heart rate quickens. “Having kids?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not ready right now. But yes, I think about it. Maybe in a year or two?”

After you finally propose.

“After I finally propose?”

For a second, I think I spoke aloud.

Hunter smirks. “You can give me shit for it. Conor sure has. But he always has to be first with everything, so I’m not sure why he’s surprised he beat me to the punch.”

“I’m not going to give you shit. There’s no clock. But I like the idea of being married first, yeah.”

Not that you need to be married to have a baby together. But my own childhood was sountraditional, I like the idea of doing things in the typical order. Of having my last name be the same as my kid’s.

Hunter squeezes my hand again. “Me too.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

HUNTER

“Whatisthat?” Aidan asks, leaning so close to the glass I think his nose is touching it. Sure enough, there’s a small streak when he steps back.

“A whale shark, I think.”

“Fuck. NowI’mscared of sharks. Why did Hart’s wedding have to ruin surfing for me?”